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<br /> <br />This sedge' is the most abundant of the comparatively few dry-land sedges, ranging <br />ranging from British Columbia [o Montana, Colorado, Utah, and northern Cali- for- <br />nia. It occurs in a variety of sites of well drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky <br />soils at elevations of from about 1,000 up to 10,000 feet. Although most promin- <br />en[ on exposed hillsides, it grows well on open grasslands and open timber. This <br />species, on parts of its range, appears typically in open ponderosa pine and <br />lodgepole pine stands, frequently being intermixed with pinegrass (Calamagros[is <br />rubescens). It commonly forms a heavy sod in almost pure stands on open hill- <br />sides and burns, which it readily invades. <br />Elk sedge withstands grazing exceptionally well, because it reproduces from <br />woody, elongated, creeping rootstocks, forming dense, almost inseparable tufts. <br />This plant is very drought-resistant, being close to the van among sedges in abi- <br />lity to withstand adverse moisture conditions. <br />It abounds over much of its range and is one of the earliest forage plants on the <br />• lower ranges. Early in the season this foliage is eaten to some extent on most <br />ranges when the leaves are relatively tender, although livestock prefer other <br />forage, if such is available. The forage value of elk sedge for domestic live- <br />stock varies greatly, because it is considerd worthless on many ranges, although, <br />due to its abundance, early appearance, and its ability to remain green the <br />entire season its average palatiability rating is from poor [o fair for sheep and <br />from fair to fairly good for cattle and horses. In parts of the Pacific North- <br />west, where elk sedge occurs in great abundance, i[ is considered a valuable for- <br />age plant, with a palatability of from fair [o good for sheep and from fairly <br />good to very good for cattle and horses. In [his same region, where elk sedge is <br />found intermixed with pinegrass, Livestock seek [he former species but reject [he <br />pinegrass. Sheep, apparently, graze elk sedge more readily on those ranges where <br />the more palatable weeds and browse species are rather deficient. The palatabi- <br />lity for elk is fair to good but somewhat lower for deer. <br /> <br />2-81 <br />